Lorain boy, 4, dies from burns sustained in fire

LORAIN -- The 4-year-old Lorain boy who was badly burned in a fire at his 19th Street home on March 23 died yesterday morning.

Nasire King had been in critical condition at Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center with burns covering 90 percent of his body for 10 days prior to his death.

"He's in God's hands now," said his great-grandmother, Betty King.

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Nasire will be remembered by family and neighbors as an outstanding child.

"I don't think I ever heard of him doing anything wrong," said neighbor Cora Stewart. "I would see him walk back and forth to school or down to the store with his mom or grandma. He was a good kid."

His aunt, Jackie King, said that Nasire was an intelligent boy. She talked of how he loved coloring and how much he enjoyed baseball and basketball.

"He loved Spider-man," Jackie King said. "He would watch cartoons with his family. Family was a huge to him."

"He was really well-mannered," Stewart said. "If I spoke to him, he would always respond, even if it was simply to say 'Hi.'"

When informed of his death, Stewart was saddened.

"I was just talking about him yesterday and saying that I hoped he would be OK," Stewart said. "It's terrible. He was just a normal kid who would run up and down the street, laughing and playing. It's just not right."

Investigators determined the nighttime blaze that also damaged the family's home began when a young sibling set Nasire's blanket on fire as he slept. No charges are expected to be filed.

Jackie King said that the family has appreciated the support they have received throughout the ordeal. However, she added that it has been difficult hearing all of the negative comments people have made toward Nasire's mother, Nicole King.

"His mother has been going through it (criticism)," Jackie King said through tears. "She birthed him, fed him and did everything she could for him. She loved him and always will."

A fund has been set up for the King family at First Federal Savings of Lorain, 3721 Oberlin Ave. Donations can be made to the King Family Benefit Fund at any First Federal Savings of Lorain branch.

However, while the donations will help with finances, they will not heal the pain that the King family is feeling with the loss of Nasire.